130. A Price for Every Theft (1)

Cedric moved before the rider reached the seed-store door.

He had no sword in his hand. Instead, he grabbed the flat stone Rhea had been carrying toward the channel wall.

The rider swung its short blade at him.

Cedric raised the stone with both hands. The blade scraped across it and slid away. Cedric stepped forward and drove the hard edge into the rider's chest.

The small creature fell backward into the wet grass.

Evan reached it a breath later. He dropped his shield across its arm, pinned it to the ground, and kicked the knife away.

"Tie it," Cedric said.

Tomas ran from the storehouse path with a length of rope. He bound the rider's wrists while it twisted and spat words none of them understood.

Carlos saw all of it in one glance. Then the chain came down.